Emma Jeffers, a 20-year-old who has already claimed road race victories in UCI-ranked elite events in Europe, has decided to declare for Ireland having ridden for Great Britain until now.
Jeffers won her first British title on the road back in June when she claimed elite gold at the Lloyds Bank National Circuit Championships.
Her addition to the Irish pool of talent to select from will bolster the U23 female group going forward. It comes at a time when Esther Wong has also declared for Ireland, while those who have already represented Ireland at junior level will step up next year.
Irish junior internationals Lucy Bénézet Minns, the reigning junior European points race champion, and Aine Doherty also move up to the U23 ranks in 2025.
Jeffers, who only turned 20-years-old last month, is about to go into her second season riding for the Liv AlUla Jayco Women's Continental Team.
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Before joining the Australian team this time last year she rode for British Continental team, DAS-Handsling. Jeffers this year won two stages of the UCI 2.2-ranked stage race, Gracia, in Czech Republic.
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Jeffers started in the world of BMX, where she won European Cup races and also made the podium at the British and European championships.
In 2021 she was 2nd in the British junior road race championships and has also competed on the track.
It is highly like she will compere for Ireland in both road and track teams and could be part of the team pursuit line-up towards the next Olympics.
Though aged just 17 years in 2022, she also claimed two rounds of the Tour Series; the city and town centre series of criteriums across Britain.
Also in that 2022 season, she was 4th in junior Gent-Wevelgem (1.Ncup) and won Grand Prix CERATIZIT Women Junior (1.1) in France.
Last year she claimed a stage victory at Rás na mBan, proving best on stage 3 into Mountrath.
